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James Elvidge Peck

Military

  •  

Started flying lessons at 15, received his license the day after he graduated from High School and claimed 212 hours flying time before joining the RAFVR. Trained at Curtis-Wright Tech. / Polaris Flight Academy in Burbank Ca. SFTS in Canada, shipped overseas, 55 OTU,
assigned to 252 Squadron, transferred to 121 Squadron, transferred to 126 Squadron, awarded DFC (UK), transferred to 53 OTU, transferred to the USAAF 52nd FG, awarded DFC (US) plus AM & clusters, transferred to 328th FG (P-39) - Oakland - Jan 23, 1943.
Killed in Crash Stony Cross/Sta 452 Cat 5 damage, Pilot James E Peck, 12-4-44.

Service

Units served with

  • 367th Fighter Group

    367th Fighter Group

    Group
    367TH FIGHTER GROUP ...

  • 394th Fighter Squadron

    394th Fighter Squadron

    Squadron

  • No. 121 'Eagle' Squadron

    No. 121 'Eagle' Squadron

    Squadron
    'On 14 May 1941, No. 121 was reformed at Kirton-in-Lindsey as the second 'Eagle' Squadron to be manned by American volunteers. Equipped with Hurricanes, it began defensive patrols in October but in November it converted to Spitfires. It moved to North...

  • 9th Air Force

    9th Air Force

    Misc

Aircraft

  • 43-28337

    P-38 Lightning
    Assigned to 394FS, 367FG, 9AF USAAF. Crashed Stony Cross/Sta 452 Cat 5, pilot Lt James E Peck KIFA, 12-Apr-44.

Associated Place

  • Biggin Hill

    Military site : airfield
    An RAF Station with US lodger units. USAAF Spitfires and P-38s were attached to RAF No 11 Group stations in mid-1942 for training; also used for special operations by British and US forces.

  • Stoney Cross

    Military site : airfield
    Planned as a secret, emergency airfield, Stoney Cross was developed during 1942-43 as an advance base for both fighters and bombers. Occupied by the RAF from January 1943, before construction was complete, the station had eventually three concrete...

Events

Event Location Date
Born Calexico, CA, USA 14 June 1921
Pilots license California, USA 1939

Received his pilots license the day after he graduated from High School.
Joined RAFVR Canada 1940

Joined Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Pilot training Burbank, CA, USA 1940

Trained at Curtis-Wright Tech. / Polaris Flight Academy in Burbank, CA, USA.
Service pilot training Ottawa, ON, Canada 1940

Service Flight Training School.
Shipped overseas Merseyside, UK 1941

Shipped overseas to ETO.
Operational training Aston Down, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL6, UK 18 August 1941 – 27 September 1941

Operational training at 55 OTU. Conversion to Hurricane.
Assigned Aldergrove, Quedgeley, Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL2 2DY, UK 6 October 1941 – 9 October 1941

Assigned to 252 Sqn RAF. Log shows one flight on Hurricanes on Oct 8th.
Transferred Kirton in Lindsey, Gainsborough, North Lincolnshire DN21, UK 10 October 1941 – 27 February 1942

Transferred to 121 [Eagle] Sqn RAF.
Transferred Malta 28 February 1942 – 7 June 1942

Transferred to 126 Squadron RAF.
Launched from A/C carrier Balearic Sea 21 March 1942

Piloted one of nine Spitfires that launched from the HMS Ranger on 21-Mar-42 to bolster the defence of besieged Malta.
Awarded DFC [Br] 1 August 1942

Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross [BR].
Transferred Heston, Hounslow, Hounslow, Greater London TW5, UK 1 August 1942

Transferred to 53 OTU.
Transferred 23 September 1942 – 20 January 1943

Transferred to the USAAF. 52nd FG.
Awards 23 January 1943

Awarded DFC (US) plus AM & clusters.
Transferred 23 January 1943

Transferred to 328th FG.
Died Stony Cross, Malvern, Herefordshire WR13, UK 12 April 1944

Killed in Crash Stony Cross/Sta 452 Cat 5 damage, Pilot James E Peck, 12-4-44.
P-38J 43-28337 394FS 367FG 9AF
Buried El Cerrito, CA, USA 1945

Sunset View Cemetery
El Cerrito
Contra Costa County
California, USA.
Nationality
American
Nickname
'Peck'
Service numbers
O-885157
Highest rank
Captain
Role/job
Pilot
Awards
  • Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
  • Distinguished Flying Cross
  • European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
  • World War II Victory Medal
  • Distinguished Flying Cross (British)

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
09 April 2016 19:59:56 Al_Skiff Changes to service number, awards and events
Sources

http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3616
http://acesofww2.com/USA/aces/peck/
https://www.facebook.com/Gold-Star-Aces-Adventures-of-the-4th-Fighter-Gr...
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Peck&GSfn=James&GS...
Date Contributor Update
26 February 2016 17:49:08 Al_Skiff Changes to unit associations and place associations
Sources

http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3616
http://acesofww2.com/USA/aces/peck/
Date Contributor Update
29 October 2015 19:56:52 Al_Skiff Created entry with surname, middlename, firstname, nickname, nationality, highest rank, role, biography, events, unit associations and place associations
Sources

http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3616
http://acesofww2.com/USA/aces/peck/

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